Fathers

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What the Fathers say

John 21:6

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

He then gives them a sign to know Him by: And He said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.

Catena Aurea by Aquinas ↗

Cyril of Alexandria

Our Lord Jesus Christ once more gladdens His disciples with the enjoyment of the sight of Himself, Whom they so greatly longed to see, and vouchsafes unto them a third visit, in addition to the other two, in order that He might confirm their minds, and render them unchangeably steadfast in faith towards Him. …

Commentary on the Gospel of John, Book 12 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

When they replied that they had none, and, at His command, having cast the net on the right side of the boat, received a catch, then the disciple whom Jesus loved says to Peter: "It is the Lord."

Commentary on John ↗

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

On that previous occasion Jesus stood not, as here, on the shore, when He gave orders for the taking of the fish, but "entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land; and He sat down therein, and taught the crowds. And when He had left speaking, He said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught." There also they put the fishes that were caught into the ship, and did not, as here, draw the net to the shore. …

Tractates on John 122 ↗

Gregory the Dialogist

A great difficulty in fishing arose for the disciples, so that when the Master came there would be a great height of wonder. He immediately said: "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find." Twice in the holy Gospel it is read that the Lord commanded that nets be cast for fishing, namely before the Passion and after the Resurrection. …

Forty Gospel Homilies, Homily 24 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

Secondly, the Evangelist mentions Christ's order, Cast the net on the right side of the boat. In Luke (5:4) there is a similar incident, but there Christ did not tell them to cast their nets to the right side, as he does here. The reason for this is that the fishing mentioned by John signifies that fishing by which the predestined are taken to eternal life, and it is only those children on the right who are brought there: "The Lord knows the ways that are on the right; those on the left are perverse" (Prv 4:27); "The right hand of …

Commentary on John ↗